![\"Governor](\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/images\/seth\/2009Q4\/stem_GovPatrickSpeech.jpg\")
\nGovernor Patrick speeking about the value of science technology engineering and math (STEM) education during his visit to The MathWorks on October 14, 2009. Photo by Jeff Newcum<\/p>\n
It is not every day that I attend a speech by political leaders of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
\nGovernor Patrick speeking about the value of science technology engineering and math (STEM) education during his visit to The MathWorks on October 14, 2009. Photo by Jeff Newcum<\/p>\n
On October 14th<\/sup>, 2009 Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed an executive order to establish the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council.\u00a0 The MathWorks hosted the gathering of local political leaders.\u00a0 MathWorks CEO Jack Little introduced the Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and the Governor Deval Patrick to a room filled with MathWorkers.\u00a0 I could describe all the formalities and go into what this means for STEM education in Massachusetts, but other media sources covered those topics (like EDN<\/a>, Mass High Tech< and the\nGovernors official website).\u00a0 Instead I would like to focus on some of the tangents to the main event.\n\n\n Talking to the Governor<\/strong><\/p>\n My fellow blogger, Loren Shure<\/a>, asked Governor Patrick what he thinks good corporate citizens can do The Governor gave a couple examples of how companies can get involved such as mentoring area students and engaging in student competitions. There already exist many opportunities to do this\u2026<\/p>\n Mentoring<\/strong><\/p>\n I have known many MathWorkers who volunteer at a local elementary school as math tutors in preparation for standardized tests.\u00a0 The same school has a Lego\u00ae Club where some of my colleagues mentor students on building robot using Lego\u00ae Mindstorms.<\/p>\n Competitions<\/strong><\/p>\n In Governor Patrick\u2019s response to Loren, he gave a specific example of a robotics competition, FIRST.<\/p>\n Most people have heard of FIRST<\/a> (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t, Targeted toward college students is the EcoCAR Challenge<\/a> (which I wrote about in a recent Another competition I am very excited about is ET Robocon<\/a>, which MathWorks also sponsors.\u00a0 The site is in Japanese, but you can see videos like this one<\/a> on YouTube (search for ET Robocon<\/a>).\u00a0 I see ET Robocon as an embedded software design competition.\u00a0 Teams all start with a standard LEGO\u00ae NXTway robot (a two-wheel Now It\u2019s Your Turn<\/strong><\/p>\n Are you a mentor?\u00a0 Are you involved in any of these or other competitions that encourage students to explore STEM fields?\u00a0 Leave a comment here<\/a> and share your experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is not every day that I attend a speech by political leaders of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n![\"Governor](\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/images\/seth\/2009Q4\/stem_GovPatrickSigning.jpg\")
\nGovernor Patrick signing the executive order to establish the STEM Advisory Council. Photo by Jeff Newcum<\/p>\n
\nto support STEM education.<\/p>\n![\"Loren](\"https:\/\/blogs.mathworks.com\/images\/seth\/2009Q4\/stem_DevalAndLoren.jpg\")
\nLoren Shure expressing her interests in STEM Education to the Governor. Photo by Jeff Newcum<\/p>\n
\nbrowse around the FIRST website<\/a> for a few minutes and get inspired<\/em> about the great things available to the next
\ngeneration of engineers and scientists.\u00a0 They have programs targeted at many different age groups, from the Junior FIRST Lego League for ages 6-9 years all the way up to \u201cthe varsity sport for the mind\u201d FIRST
\nRobotics Competition<\/a> for ages 14 to 18 years.<\/p>\n
\npost<\/a>). MathWorks is a sponsor of the competition, and some of my colleagues act at mentors to teams. The goal is to modify GM donate vehicles in an attempt to reduce emissions, minimize fuel consumption AND maintain consumer appeal.\u00a0 Those college students involved are already on their way to careers in engineering.<\/p>\n
\nbalancing robot built from LEGOs). \u00a0They have to develop an autonomous control strategy and implement it to race robot around a pre-set track as fast as possible.\u00a0 Some of my colleagues from Japan developed the balancing algorithm using Simulink and Real-Time Workshop Embedded Coder (available on the File Exchange here<\/a>).\u00a0 All the teams have to incorporate that balancing software into their larger design.\u00a0 I learned that there are many university teams as well as professional engineers from major companies involved in the competition.<\/p>\n